He also appeared for Newport, Carlisle, Birmingham, Hartlepool, Millwall, Blackpool and Oxford before going into coaching.

Mr Carter ended his playing days in 1999 at Halifax Town. Today a spokesman for Sunderland declined to comment.

Durham Constabulary said today that the former goalkeeper's family had raised concerns for his welfare before his body was found.

A spokesman for the force said: "Durham Police can confirm that members of Mr Carter's family had first raised concerns for his safety in the early hours of Thursday.

"On information available at the time, officers from this force had been liaising directly with colleagues from Greater Manchester Police who in their turn carried out extensive inquiries in their area throughout that day."